Photographic printing apparatus



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 13, 1957 F'IGJ INVENTOR FREDERICK O- TRUMP:

6% 1' BY ATTORNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 15, 1957 INVENTORF'REDEFZ ICK O- TRUMP ATTORNEYS May 30, 1961 F. o. TRUMP 2,986,081

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 13, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 3:HIIIIIIIIIIIAIJIIINIHI INVENTOR FREDERICK O- TRUMP BY 66% 71d ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS Frederick 0. Trump,West Springfield, Mass, assignor to Tecnifax Corporation, Holyoke,Mass., a corporation 1 of Massachusetts 1 Filed Nov. 13, 1957, Ser. No.696,180

14 Claims. (Cl. 95-77.5)

This invention relates to a combined photographic dry printing anddeveloping machine and more particularly to the printing apparatusthereof and novel arrangement of printer mechanism for the assembly ofthe machine.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a printing cylinderassembly with associated parts arranged for ready and convenientremovability from, and insertion into, an operative position in themachine and for accessibility to various and sundry components thereoffor inspection, cleaning, repair or replacement purposes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a printer assembly unit ina dry-type developing machine which may be inserted into and withdrawnfrom operative relationship at the front of the machine. A relatedobject is to eliminate the need for excessive space requirements at oneside or another of the apparatus in order to enable the withdrawal andinstallation of printing cylinders and associated apparatus endwise of aside frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel inlet and outletduct arrangement for the pressure and suction passages leading to theprinting cylinder, the printer unit having a dual manifold structureslidably registrable therewith for connection of necessary ducts forventilation of the machine.

These and many other specific objects and advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent from the following disclosure of anembodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is an end elevational representation of a machine in which thepresent invention may be embodied and in which major components of theoperative mechanism are schematically illustrated by dotted lines toshow the general operation thereof;

Fig. 2 is a front end view with parts cut away of a removable printercarriage unit indicated by Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side view of one of the manifold units seen in Fig. 2, theside wall panel being removed and certain parts omitted;

Fig. 4 is a detail view substantially on line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the frame mounted pressure andsuction passage connections for the printer unit of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a side edge view of the structure of Fig. 5 with the adjacentmanifold unit in operative position, and showing the driving meansassociated with belt assemblies of the carriage unit and portions of theframe members being in section;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view substantially on line 77 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section on line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section on line 9-9 of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view (with parts omitted) taken throughthe printing cylinder.

The general arrangement and operation of the drytype printing anddeveloping machine will be appreciated from Fig. 1'. One side frame isindicated at 10 with 7 2,986,081 Patented May 30, 1961 front and rearbase extensions at 12 and 14, respectively,

mechanism, etc. It will be understood a similar side frame is located inspaced relation at the other end of the machine. Between the upperportions of side frames 10 is mounted a developing tank 16 with anammonia tray 18. Around the tank is an endless conveyor as a sealingsleeve 19 for passing exposed sensitized photographic sheets over thesurface of the tank through the developing zone thereof. Below the tankis positioned the printing section of the apparatus, this beinggenerally designated by numeral 20.

In the printing section 20 of the frame an endless conveyor belt 22 ismounted, an upper roller 24 and lower roller 26 being vertically spacedfrom one another at the forward end of the frame. Between the rollers 24and 26 a printing cylinder carriage 28 may be slidably inserted as willbe described. In its operative dotted line position, a cylinder 30tensions the belt 22 against its surface for exposing a sensitized sheetcarried by the belt. In its withdrawn or inoperative position thecylinder carriage 28 (as shown by dot-dash lines) may be positioned onthe feed table portion at 32 at the top of section 12. In the latterposition of the carriage the belt 22 is draped loosely from roller 24between opposite side frames 10. Free access may thus be had to thecarriage for needed inspection, repair or replacement purposes inconnection with any of the parts of the carriage.

From Fig. 1 it will also be seen that a master sheet, from which copiesare to be taken, may be fed into the machine on top of a sheet ofsensitized photographic copy paper. The two sheets may be guided fromthe feed board surface at 32 onto the feeding end of belt 22 which isabove roller 26. The two sheets are then passed between belt 22 and anauxiliary feed belt 34 of the carriage to the lower side of cylinder 30and around to the top of the cylinder. Pick-01f mechanism mounted on thecarriage at 36 assists in separation of the two sheets from the cylinderto follow the underside of belt 22 which bears against an upwardlyinclined suction box at 38 positioned between side frames 10. Suctionholds the two sheets thereagainst being assisted by an auxiliary belt 40mounted on the carriage 28. Belt 40 passes around a suction cylinder 42which serves to draw the master sheet (now the lower sheet) away fromthe copy paper which continues to be held by suction box 38. The masterdrops away from belt 40 to be stacked or rolled in the fore portion ofthe carriage 28. A stationary stacking tray is shown at 44 for receivingthe separate master sheets. Alternatively, the tray 44 may be removed ifthe master is in the form of a continuous web. In this latter case abelt 46 receives the master sheet and with the belt 46 moving past aback-board member 48 the web may be automatically rolled up at the frontof the carriage.

The sheet to be developed as will be seen is carried up to the roller24, transferred to a belt 50, and thence carried to the sealing sleeve20 and around the developing tank 16. From the upper side of the tankthe now developed copy is transferred again by belt 50 to the stackingtray at 52 where it is disposed face up for inspection by an operatorstanding at the front of the machine.

In Fig. 2 frame members 11 of the spaced side frames 10 are shown and itwill be realized from the drawings and the preceding description of theoperation with reference to Fig. 1 that the side frames 10 support thetank and endless belt supports between the upper sections thereof, andthat the tank 16 and sealing sleeve bridge a cavity between the framesinto which the printing cylinder carriage 28 may be moved into operativeposition. Attached to the members 11 are oppositely disposed angle ironsupports 54 on which are carried rails 56 formed as toothed tracks forreceiving the supporting pinion wheels at 58 and 60 (see Fig. 3) of thecarriage 28. The rails 56 are positioned on the side frames at the levelof the feed board and extend onto the board 32 as shown by Fig. 1 fortravel to and from the operative and withdrawn positions.

The carriage 28, as will be seen from Figs. 1, 2, and 3, comprises apair of manifold members 62 between which is supported the printingcylinder 30. The feed belt rollers for belt 34, the rollers and suctioncylinder 42 for take-off belt 40, the pick-off member 36, and tie rodsfor the wheel pinions 58 and 60all extend between the manifolds 62 totie the opposite sides of the carriage together. The cylinder 30 isformed with end rings at 64 (Fig. 2) cradled in rocking bearingassemblies 66 at each side of the cylinder (Fig. 3). The bearingassemblies are bracketed inwardly of each manifold inner wall 63 (Fig.2). End bearings, one of which is shown at 68 in Fig. 3, abut oppositeedges of the cylinder to position the same properly between themanifolds.

Interiorly of the cylinder 30 and supported directly by the manifolds isa partitioning member for dividing the cylinder into a lamp chambersection and a pressure chamber section through which cooling air may beconducted for ventilating the cylinder. The partitioning member 70 (seeFigs. 3, 7 and 10) is semi-cylindrical in form (Fig. 10) and is disposedwith its flat wall 72 centrally of the cylinder and facing the beltcontacting side thereof. A lamp bracket 74 is fixed to the wall on whicha lamp as at 76 (Fig. 3) may be hung. The member 70 (Fig. 7) extendsinwardly of the inner manifold wall 63 through an opening 78 and at thetop and bottom of the opening are lugs 80 (Fig. 3) against which member70 may be positioned. At each end the edges of end walls 82 overlap theopening 78 (see Fig. 7), and are positioned as by a supporting block asat 84. Thus the partitioning member (see Fig. 10) forms a pressurechamber within the same and into which cooling air may be conducted aswill be described. Outlet openings 86 at the top are directed forwardlyof the member and openings 88 are directed rearwardly for circulationinto the surrounding sections of the cylinder.

It will be seen from Fig. 1 that the belt contacting area of thecylinder and therefor the light exposure zone of the mechanism begins ata six oclock position of the cylinder and ends at a twelve oclockposition. In order to shorten the exposure time shutter means areprovided, as best shown by Fig. 3, to blank the light from striking asensitized sheet passing into the entrance section of the full exposurezone. A flap as at 90 for each half of the cylinder is hinged along itslower edge across the lower portion of the flat wall 72. A rod 92 issecured across the mid section of the flap 90 and extends beyond theedge of the cylinder into the manifold 62 of the carriage. Mounted ineach manifold is an adjusting means for tilting the flap 90 forwardly toshield the lower entrance section of the cylinder as shown by the dottedline position of Fig. 3. Embracing the rod 92 are the forked arms of anactuator member 94 fixed at the outer end of a bar 96 which is'supportedfor sliding movement in the manifold. Movement toward the inner end ofthe manifold will shield the entrance end of the cylinder (the dottedline position) and toward the outer end will permit full exposure to thelamp (the full line position). Bar 96 is slidably supported near itsouter end by a bracket 98 and at the other end in a rack bar mountingmember 100. At this end a rack 101 is fixed on the upper surface of thebar and in mesh therewith is a gear 102 driven by a chain and sprocketarrangement 104 (see also Fig. 2). The bar 96 is guided on a crossmember 106 of the mounting member 100 above which is journaled the axle108 for the sprocket and gear. The chain is. driven from a sprocket 110(Fig. 3) hung in a bracket111 fixed to the top wall of the manifold andcar- W shaft. ich, h SP QCkQt d a e: knurled wheel 112 are fixed. Theknurled wheel projects 4 through an opening in the front wall of themanifold and is there accessible for manual turning by an operator inorder to drive the chain and thus adjust the flap as desired. It will berealized that a duplicate mechanism in association with the manifold atthe opposite side of the frame permits a wide flexibility for adjustmentof light for a printing operation.

As seen by Fig. 7 the end wall 82 of the partitioning member 70 isformed with an opening 114 into the manifold. In opening 114 is fitted aconnecting conduit section 116 for passage of air under pressure.Section 116; as seen from Figs. 8 and 5, is a passage from which aportion of the air under pressure may be diverted upwardly into a branchconduit 118 as by a deflector 117 (see Fig. 8). The branch 118 leadsinto the opening for the pressure chamber 36 (Figs. 1 and 3) above thecylinder and from which air is expelled (in the direction of the arrow37 in Fig. 3) to strip sheets from the exit end of the cylinderforpassage tothe take-01f belt 40.

The conduits 116 and 118 may be suitably formed as a part of the outermanifold cover wall as at 119 (Fig. 7) and passage from the lamp sectionof the cylinder is provided through the opening as at 120 surroundingthe pressure conduit 116. The latter opening in the operative positionof the carriage registers with the opening of a collecting chamber '121of an exhaust manifold designated generally by numeral 122. The exhaustmanifold 122 is provided with a circular lip 124 aligned with theopening 78 which leads through the carriage manifold from the printingcylinder 30. Fixed in the outer wall of the exhaust manifold 122 is apressure source conduit 126 which registers with the conduit 1 16. Anelbow 128 leading to conduit 126 is connected to a flexible hose 130 andthus to a suitable source of supply. Exhaust manifold 122 also is formedwith conduits for collecting exhaust fumes from the developing tank 16as through a suction line 132 (Fig. 5) and for creating suction in thechamber 38 (see Fig. l) as through line 134, the connection to thesemembers not being shown herein. An exhaust port is shown for the manifold in the form of flexible hose 136.

The manifold 122 is pivotally mounted at its lower edge on the sideframe, as seen from Figs. 5 and 6, by brackets 1 40. At the top atension spring 142, hooked to the frame wall 11 and to the outer edge ofthe manifold holds the lip 124 urged inwardly on its pivot to registerwith the opening of the carriage manifold. As seen in Figs. 6 and 9 abeveled edge portion as at 144 will be in the path of the leading cornerof the movable carriage as' it is being pushed into position between theside frames. Accordingly, the exhaust manifold 122 'will be cammedagainst the spring 142, rock on its pivot, and be seated snugly inregistered position when the carriage is moved into its operativeposition. The lip 124 is against the edge of the opening of the manifoldand the pressure conduit 126 is registered with the conduit section 116.

It will be seen that carriage 28 may be manually pushed from itswithdrawn position (Fig. 1) (on the track 56 of the feed board section34 and outwardly of the side frames 10), to its operative positionbetween the frames 10 and thus automatically establish the.interconnection of pressure and exhaust passages for conducting air toand from the various chambers associated with the cylinder. During suchmovement an electric line for the lamp 76 remains connected thereto.Line 150 enters the carriage manifold at therear for the lead; to thelamp (Fig. 3) and as seen from Fig. 1 is passed over a guide roll 152 tobe looped at: the rear of the machine by a weighted take-up pulleyarrangement 154. Withdrawal of the carriage thus brings the line 150along with it. On returnv of; the carriage to operative position theweight returns the line to the looped position shown. I

n ts am t wv 129 16 between. he, m s-the can.

'riagemay be locked in the assembly by means of bolting devicesassociated with eachof the manifolds 62. As'shown by -Fig. 4 the framewall 11 has a bolt opening 160 into which the end of a bar bolt 162 mayproject. The bolt 162 is slidable in a guide 164 and is formed with arack on its upper surface. In mesh with the rack is a toothed gear 166of a shaft 168 projecting outwardly through the front wall and a bossthereon with a handle 170 at its outerend. Radially of the shaft is alatching knob 172with a stern having a headed end 174 slidable in arecess of the handle and against which is urged a spring-loaded headedstem 176 slidable in a recess of the boss. In the position shown springnormally maintains the stern head 176 in the recess of the handle tolock it against rotation. Pressure on knob 172 pushes the head 176 outof the handle recess and enables turning of the handle to project thebar 162 into locking position. Bar 162 is also spring loaded as at 178to assist its movement to locked position. Thus when the carriage is inoperative position between the frames the spring.178 will normally holdthe bar 162 locked. The operator unlocks the same by positively turningthe handle 170 of eachmanifold member until the stern 176 projects intothe handle recess at which position the bolt 162 is withdrawn. Thecarriage can then be withdrawn and the bolts 162 are inoperative untilsuch time as the operator desires to re-establish the locking positionby again pressing against knob 172.

As previously described with reference to Fig. 1 the path of theconveyor belt 22 extends rearwardly from a lower roller 26 adjacent thefront of the side frames to an upper roller 24 also forwardly located.between the frames. The drive for belt 22 comprises a chain 180 drivenby a motor (not shown) engaging a sprocket 182 of the roller 26. Gearsfor driving the roller and belt arrangements mounted between thecarriage manifolds 62 are fixed at each end of the roller 26. One suchgear is shown at 184 in Figs. 3 and 6', it being noted that the axle ofroller 26 is suitably mounted in frame wall 11 with drive sprocket 182fixed at its outer end and a sprocket and chain 183 drive inwardlythereof for extending upwardly to drive the roller drive (not shown) ofthe sealing sleeve 20 of the developing tank.

Gear 184, as shown by Figs. 3 and 6, is disposed immediately below thetoothed track 56 on which the carriage wheels 60 and 58 ride. The teethof the gear 184 are thus positioned to engage and mesh with the teeth ofa gear 186 supported on a shaft 188 mounted between the manifold walls.Also mounted on shaft 188 is a gear 190 which drives a gear 192 (Fig. 3)to transmit movement to a gear 194 on the shaft 195 of the drivingroller 196 (Fig. 6) for driving the auxiliary feed belt 34. A sprocketchain drive 198 for rollers of the takeoff belt 40 (Fig. 1) extends asshown by Fig. 3 from the shaft 195 of the feed belt roller to drive theshaft 200 ofa drive roller for the belt 40.

The driving arrangement described for theroller means mounted in thecarriage 28 is thus engaged for operation by positioning the carriagebetween the side frames. This places the frame mounted gear 184 in meshwith the carriage mounted gear 186. In such position the handles 170 maybe manipulated to engage the locking bolts to maintain the operativeposition for the printing apparatus. Additionally as seen in Figs. 1 and3 a cut-off switch assembly 202, located at the rear frame section, isactuated by a projecting member 204 fixed to the rear end wall of themanifold. Member 204 energizes the switch to establish the motor circuit(not shown) which drives the sprocket chain 180. Accordingly, thecircuit is effective only when the carriage is in operative position.Withdrawal of the carriage will render the drive mechanism inoperativeby interrupting the circuit.

Having described the invention what I claim is:

1. In a dry-type printing and developing machine having side supportingframes, at developing tank and sealing 15 sleeve means supportedtherebetween with an' endless conveyor belt arranged to deliver exposedphotographic sheets to said sealing sleeve; vertically spaced rollermeans forwardly of the frames. and between which said; conveyor belt isloosely draped, a printing cylinder unit movable between the side framesand having a printing cylinder engageable with the belt to' tension thesame against the cylinder rearwardly of said roller means inv a positionof operative assembly therewith, auxiliary belts mounted on said unitand engageable in said assembled position of the unit with portions ofsaid conveyor belt leading to and from the lower and upper sidesrespectively of the cylinder, interconnecting driving means between saidauxiliary belts and power take-off means between said driving means andthe lower roller of said vertically spaced roller means. I

2. The structure of claim 1 in which pressure and suction passage meansare mounted on said supporting frames and pressure and suction passagemeans are housed in said cylinder unit, said unit and supporting frameshaving pressure and exhaust port means for registration and connectionin said operatively assembled position of the unit.

' 3. The structure of claim 2 in which the'pressure and suction passagesof each supporting frame are contained in a composite manifold memberpivoted on the frame with spring means yieldably urging said memberinwardly of the frame, and movement of the cylinder unit into. assembledposition cams said member againstthe said spring means to effectregistration of the said ports of the unit and frame. I

4. Photographic printing apparatus comprising spaced side frames,endless conveyor belt roller supports mounted between said frames andhaving upper and lower members 'between which a cylinder may be insertedfor tensioning a belt trained around said members, horizontal trackmeans fixed intermediate said upper and lower members, a movablecarriage supported on said track means including a printing cylinderlying transversely between said frames for engaging the belt, open-endedpressure and suction conduits mounted on said frames, the open ends ofsaid conduits facing interiorly of the frame and said carriage havingmating conduit ports for registration with the aforesaid conduits at onelimit of frame movement, said cylinder having interconnecting pressureand suction passages for cooling the interior thereof and a lamp chamberand lamp facing the belt contacting surface of the cylinder, and lampcircuit means supported on said frame and connected to said lampincluding means for maintaining the connection therewith at oppositelimits of carriage movement.

5. Photographic printing apparatus comprising side; frames, a movablecarriage mounted between said frames having a printing cylinder mountedtransversely of the path of travel of said carriage, means mountedbetween; said frames engageable by said cylinder at one limit ofmovement of the carriage and forming with the cylinder a conveyor pathfor passage of sensitized photographic sheets over the surface of saidcylinder, a lamp and interconnecting pressure and suction passagewaysfor circulation of air in said cylinder, ports for said passagewaysformed in said carriage, and pressure and suction conduits on saidframes with ports therefor registrable with the corresponding ports ofsaid carriage at said one limit of movement, saidcarriage at itsopposite limit of movement exposing said cylinder and passagewaysassociated therewith for access thereto free of said side frames.

6. Photographic printing apparatus comprising side frames, a movablecarriage mounted between said frames having a printing cylinder mountedtransversely of the path of travel of said carriage, an endless belthaving rollers spaced at opposite sides of said path between said framesfor engagement of the belt under tension by said cylinder at one limitof movement of the carriage and forming with the cylinder a conveyorpath for passage aosepsi ofsensitized photographic sheets over thesurface of said cylinder, a lamp and interconnecting pressure andsuction passageways for circulation of air in said cylinder, ports forsaidpassageways formed in said carriage, and pressure and suctionconduitson said frames with ports therefor registrable'with thecorrespondin'g'ports of said carr'iage at saidone limit of movement,said carriage at its opposite limit of movement exposing said cylinderand passagewaysassociated therewith for access thereto free of said sideframes. 9

7. The structure of claim 6'in which a suction tank is mounted betweensaid frame adjacent the exit end of the conveyor path around thecylinder and the engagement of said cylinder with the belt results indisposing the belt against said suction tank for carrying an exposedsensitized sheet on the belt beyond said cylinder.

' 8. Photographic printing apparatus comprising spaced side frames, amovable carriage mounted between said frames having a pair of spacedmanifold members and a printing cylinder supported at opposite endsbetween said members transversely of the path of travel of saidcarriage, an endless belt'arranged between said frames and engageable bysaidcylinder to tension the beltthereagainst at one limit of'movement ofthe carriage and thereby form a path for travel for sensitizedphotographic sheets against the surface of said cylinder, partitionmeans supported by said manifolds, extending through said cylinderremotelyfrom the belt contacting surface thereof, and having anelongated inlet chamber for receiving air under pressure, said chamberhaving openings therefrom for discharge ofair into the surrounding areaof the cylinder, a lamp mounted on said partitioning means facing saidbelt contacting surface of the cylinder, adjustable shutter meansmounted on the partitioning means for shielding portions of saidcylinder from said lampand means for actuating said shutter meansoperable from the front of said manifold members, said manifold membershaving inlet and outletpassage means at opposite ends of said cylinderwith ports for said pressure and discharge chambers, and pressure andsuction conduits on said frames with ports therefor registrable with thecorresponding ports of said manifold members at said one limit ofmovement, said carriage at its opposite limit of movement exposing saidcylinder and passage means associated therewith for access thereto freeof said side frames.

9. Photographic printing apparatus comprising spaced side frames havinga pair of vertically spaced horizontal rollers disposed forwardlybetween the frames and carrying an endless conveyor belt therebetween,horizontal track means above the lower of said rollers extending betweensaid frames and forwardly thereof, and a cylinder 10. The structure ofclaim 9 in which apressurecham ber extends between said manifolds and is'disprmed between said cylinder and said take-off belt; for directingair to strip sheets from the cylinder, and said passage means of themanifolds includes a branch pressure conduit in communication with saidpressure chamber.

' 11. The structure of claim 9 in which suction means are associatedwith said auxiliary take-off belt at the end thereof and a-stacking trayfor receiving sheets is disposed therebelow at the front of saidcarriage.

12. In 'a dry type printing and developing machine having supportingmeans, a developing tank and sealing sleeve means supported thereby andconveyor means in eluding an endless belt for transferring exposedphotocarriage supported on said track means, said carriagecomprising apair of spaced manifold members having a'printing cylinder supportedtherebetween and movable on the track to an operative positionrearwardly between the frames with the cylinder in belt tensioningposition and to an inoperative position forwardly of the frames and freeof said belt, said manifold members supporting therebetween an auxiliaryfeed belt engageable with the lower run of said endless belt fordirecting photographic sheets for travel around said cylinder, anauxiliary take-off belt engageable with the upper run of said conveyorbelt for directing exposed sheets along the upper run, a lamp and airconduit means extending through said cylinder with passage means in saidmanifoldsfor conducting air into and out of the cylinder, said framehaving mating pressure and suction passages registrable with saidmanifold passage means on insertion of said carriage into said operativeposition.

graphic sheets to said sealing means; a printer unit mounted formovement relative to said supporting means and having a printingcylinder rotatably mounted thereon, a pair of vertically spaced rollersover which said belt is trained, the lower of said rollersbeing'disposed adjacent the front of the machine, said printer unitbeing movable to an operative positionwherein the printing cylinder isspaced substantially r'earwardly of both of said rollers and tensionsthe belt against said rollers, said printer unit being moved to aninoperative position spaced forwardly of said rollers, the lower surfaceof said printing cylinder in its operative position lying substantiallyon the same level as the upper surface of the lower roller therebyforming a horizontally disposed lower run of said belt which comprises afeeding section thereof for the advance of photographic sheets'to saidprinting cylinder, the lower surface of the upper of said rollers beingspaced above the upper surface of said printing cylinder in itsoperative position, thereby forming an upwardly inclined run of saidbelt which comprises a delivery section thereof for the travel ofexposed sheets from said cylinder, a suction box mounted on saidsupporting means along said upper run for holding the exposed sheetsagainst the delivery section of said belt for transfer to said sealingsleeve means.

13. The structure of claim 12 wherein said printer unit has an auxiliaryfeed belt assembly mounted thereon in cooperative relation with thesheet feeding section of said conveyor belt in the operative position ofsaid printer unit, and an auxiliary take-01f belt assembly is mounted onsaid printer unit in cooperative relation with the delivery section ofsaid belt when the printer unit is in its operative position, and meansare providedfor driving said auxiliary belt assemblies and said conveyorbelt at the same rate.

14. The structure of claim 13 wherein the driving means for saidauxiliary belt assemblies comprises a takeoif connection with the lowerof the vertically spaced rollers, and wherein the power take-01f isautomatically engaged when said printer unit is moved to said operativeposition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,022,039 Metzger Apr. 2, 1912 1,852,316 Langsner Apr. 15, 19322,459,362 Cary Jan. 18, 1949 2,548,936 Blick Apr. 17, 1951 2,574,215Kunstader Nov. 6, 1951 2,641,980 Brunk June 16, 1953 2,732,778 LimbergerJan. 31, 1956 2,733,644 Taini Feb. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 897,004France May 15, 1944

